Fresh Take

The Fight Against Summer HungerIt’s hard to imagine summer being stressful. Many of us think of days spent by the pool, family cook-outs, and long weekend getaways. But for many families in our community, there is real concern and anxiety over summer food insecurity.

More than 6,000 kids in our service area rely on their school’s free and reduced price meal programs for breakfast and lunch. But when the school year ends, it can be difficult for families to provide two extra meals per day for everyone in the home.

Children may end up skipping meals, missing out on proper nutrition during crucial times of growth and development. Often times it’s the parents who opt not to eat, giving what little food they do have in the home to the children.

At PRISM, we experience a 25% increase in the number of families who access our Marketplace Food Shelf in the summer months. We are committed to ensuring that those families struggling to buy nutritious meals for the whole family remain healthy throughout the summer. PRISM takes a three-pronged approach to fighting summer hunger each year:

More Food for FamiliesFamilies with school-aged children who access our Food Shelf during the summer months receive additional kid-friendly foods during each visit. Food is selected by families using the same choice model we have implemented throughout the Food Shelf, so they’re able to choose the foods they know their kids like. Options include healthy snacks like granola bars and applesauce as well as easy-to-prepare meals. We also offer significantly more fresh produce to all Food Shelf visitors.

Free Produce DistributionsPRISM makes fresh fruits and vegetables available to the public at no cost through our summer produce distributions. Anyone in the community can visit our produce distribution events, held at Elim Lutheran Church in Robbinsdale.

This year’s distributions will take place the following Tuesdays from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.: • July 17 • August 7 • August 21 • September 4 • September 18 • October 2

Farmers MarketsAll summer, PRISM’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Benefits Coordinator will host a booth at the New Hope and Golden Valley Farmers Markets to help SNAP recipients access fresh, healthy, local foods from vendors.

PRISM is the first food shelf in the state of Minnesota to offer a dedicated staff member providing this service at Farmers Markets. We’ll help customers navigate the process, including how to use Market Bucks, which matches SNAP spending up to $10. With these programs, customers can further stretch their dollars and make healthy food more affordable.

The New Hope Farmers Market is open Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The Golden Valley Farmers Market is open onSundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

You can join the fight against hunger this summer by donating non-perishable foods and funds to support our Food Shelf, or volunteering with us.

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donateGive cash, send a check, or contribute online. Donate food and hygiene items to our Food Shelf, or clothing and smallhousewares for our Thrift Shop.

volunteerShare your time in our Food Shelf, Thrift Shop, front office, and more. Contact klytle@prismmpls.org to get started.

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Back To School SuccessThis fall, kids will return to school with a variety of emotions – from nerves over what to expect in a new grade, to excitement from seeing classmates after the long summer. But no child should have to experience feelings of worry over having the right school supplies, or embarrassment when they show up for school empty-handed. School shopping is a tradition for kids in every grade – you get the list from your school and begin the hunt for all the supplies. But as schools’ budgets have tightened, those lists have gotten longer… and more expensive. At PRISM, we know how important it is to start school on the right foot. Children who walk into school on the first day with a backpack full of the same supplies as their peers feel confident and prepared to learn. Our Back-to-School Success Program ensures all children have the tools they need to find success in the classroom, regardless of their financial situation.

On August 24 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., families needing assistance purchasing school supplies can come to PRISM and receive a backpack and supplies for their children, free of charge. We aim to provide free school supplies to 650 children this year.

Here’s how you can help:

• Drop off supplies at PRISM by August 14, or buy online (tinyurl.com/PRISMsupplies) and ship them to PRISM. Most-needed items include backpacks, pencil boxes, flash drives, 3” three-ring binders, and college-ruled notebooks. • Volunteer for one of several roles prior to or at our August 24 supply distribution event.

With your help, we can ensure children in our community start off the new school year excited to learn, with a backpack full of the supplies they need to succeed. For more information please visit www.prismmpls.org/backtoschool.

Meet Our NeighborsBy now you’ve likely heard about our new location, and have hopefully had a chance to visit the space we’re so excited about. Now it’s time to meet our new neighbors!

PRISM occupies a portion of the forever home of Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Minneapolis (JFCS), a newly renovated building made possible through the generosity of the Stillman Family Foundation. The new building was designed with collaboration in mind, and allows participants of both organizations to more easily access an array of services.

Since 1910, JFCS has provided programs, services, and support to thousands in the Jewish and broader communities. JFCS employs 120 compassionate and experienced staff who provide 30-plus programs including:

• Career Services• Children and Family Services • Community Engagement• Counseling and Mental Health Support• Financial Assistance • Senior Services

JFCS’s programs address the needs of more than 13,000 people each year, and provide the perfect complement to PRISM’s programs, which provide healthy food, proper clothing, and housing stability to 6,000 people every year.

“We are thrilled to be settled in our new space, and we’re excited about what our partnership with JFCS means for this community,” says Michelle Ness, PRISM Executive Director.“Our shared values and desire for collaboration have blossomed into an accessible facility that will help even more people through our collective services and abilities.”

PRISM’s new address is 1220 Zane Avenue North, Golden Valley, MN 55422. Contact us for a tour! Learn more about JFCS at www.jfcsmpls.org.

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Fresh Take (continued)